This Day in Georgia History

September 14, 1744

Oglethorpe Marriage License Issued

At the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London, a marriage license was issued to “Hon. James Oglethorpe, of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, Esq., Bachelor, above 40 and Elizabeth Wright, of Cranham, Essex, spinster, above 25.” In reality, Oglethorpe was 48 at the time, while his bride-to-be was probably closer to 30. Incidentally, the reference to St. Margaret’s was St. Margaret’s Parish, which encompassed the area of Westminster where Oglethorpe lived while in London. His home was still in Godalming in Surrey County, though he would soon move to new wife’s estate in Cranham east of London.